Flexible pipe joint



Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. RUSSELL AND EMIL E. STENZEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO VAPOR CAR HEATING COMPANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT.

Application filed November 30, 1921. Serial No.v 518,941.

@ur invention relatesto a universal joint, preferably of the ball-and-socket type, for use in flexibly connecting two conduit. members or for forn'iing an element of such connection, the invention having in contemplation particularly a joint which can be util `ized in an all-metal flexible tubular connection for coupling together the train pipes of adjacent cars in a railway train.

A .primaryrobject of the invention is to provide a universal pipe joint, more partie ularly of the ball-and-socket type, which will be flexiblefunder high internal pressures, which will be furnished with effective sealing means betw'een the articulated members of the joints, and which will be furnished with means for articulating the membersof the joint one with the other, arranged within said members. The latter feature is advantageous because by arranging the articulation of the joint within the conduit membeis, said means is protected from injury, and the over-all diameter of the joint is reduced to a minimum.

The invention consists in the new and improved arrangement-s, devices and constructions, to be hereinafter described and claimed, for carrying out the above stated objects, and such other incidental objects as will be referred to in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawingz' Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of the joint;

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views on lines 2-2 and 3,3, respectively;

F ige. it and 5 are views in perspective of devices for reducing the friction of the fluid in passing through -the joint; and

Fig. 6 isa view in perspective of the ball member constituting part of the means for articulating one conduit member with 4the other.

Referringto-'t-he drawing: 10 and 11 designate the two conduit members of the joint, the latter being formed with a hollow, spherical or ball portion 12, which projects into a socket portion 13 formed on the member 10. The conduit members 10 and 11 are flexibly articulated by means of a ball member 14C rigidly connected with conduit member 10 and aI socket member 15 rigidly con nected with conduit member 11. This ar- .member 14, this stem having a shoulder 19 adapted to bear against the underside of boss 17 and its upper end being threaded, as shown at 20, for a nut 21. A washer 22 is preferably interposedbetween the nut 21 and boss 17. The ball 141 fits into the socket member 15 which is preferably forn'ied .integrally with a spider construction 23 on the interior of the spherical portion 12 of 'conduit member 11. The nut 21 is preferably formed on the top with a cone 24 and a conical member 25 is secured to an inter nally threaded flange 26 on the ball member 15, member 25 being formed preferably so as to provide a pocket 27 for a lubricant.

The sealing means ,between the conduit members 10 and lljlconsists preferably of a gasket 28 which is interposed between the inner `surface of the socket 13 which is cylindrical and the exterior surface of the inner end of ball 12. This gasket will be kept in proper sealing position by the pressure of the fluid passing through the joint, but to provide for holding the gasket against the spherical member 12 when the joint `is not under pressure, a coiled spring 29 ris arranged in an annular pocket 30 formed ii. member 10, sothat `it will bear against a metallic follower `31, preferably provided with a conical flange 32 extending into and engaging the conical -bore 33 of the gasket 28. The spring 29 also serves the function ofholding the articulatingsocket 15 against the ball 14, so that the ball member does not require `accurate.adjustment with respect to its attachment to spider 16 or take up in case of wear. In order to prevent dust., cinders, and the like fromr entering the space occupied by the gasket, the socket member 13 is formed near its outer end with an interior channel 34 in which is arranged a packing element 35.

It will be noted that the gasket- 28, when urged into the annular space between spherical portion 12 and the cylindrical socket 13,

fil

by the spring Q9 or the fluid pressure within the joint. will not only seal the joint between these conduit members but will hold the members trom contact with onel another, thus assisting the articulating ball 14; as a support and centering` means i'or the spherical conduit member.

VWe claim:

1. A flexible pipe joint comprising in combination conduit members. one haring au in teriorly cylindrical portion and the other an e. tcriorl \7 spherical portion extending, within but out ot' contact with the cylindrical portion ot thc other member, articulating ball and socket elements within and rigidly connected with said conduit members respective y so as to hold one of said members centered within and out ot' contact with the other member, and a gasket arranged slidably in said cylindrical portion ot the one membc: and haring a curved end to tit against the inner part ot the spherical portion ot said other member.

A flexible pipe joint comprising in combination conduit members. one haring an interiorly cylindrical portion and the other an exteriorly spherical portion extending within but out oli' contact with the cylindrical portion ot the other member. articulating ball and socket elements within and rigidly connected with said conduit members respectirely so as to hold one ot said members centered within and out of contact with the other member. a gasket arranged slidably in said cylindrical portion ot the one member and haring.r a curved end to lit against the inner part ot the `spherical portion ot said other member. and a spring which tends to keep said ball and `socket elements in proper bearing contact with cach other.

A flexible pipe joint comprising in combination conduit members. one having an interiorly cylindrical portion and the other an ext'criorly spherical portion extending Within but out ot contact. with the cylindrical portion of tho other member. articulating ball and socket elements within and rigidly connected with said conduit members respectivelyy .so as to hold one of said members centered within and outl of contact with the other member. a. gasket arranged slidably in said cylindrical portion ot the one member and haring a curved end to tit against the inner part ot the spherical portion ot' .said other member. and a spring bearing against said gasket. to force the same against the .spherical portion of one of .said conduit members and to maintain proper bearing contact between .said ball and socket elements.

l. il llexibie pipe joint comprising@r in combination conduit members. one haring an eX- teriorly spherical portion extending into but out ot contact with the other member. articu laling ball and socket elements within and rigidly connected with said conduit members respectircly so as to hohl one ot .said meznlmrs centered within and out ol' contact will; the other member, and a gasket ar ranged between the inner part olf said spherical portion ot one o said members and said other member.

It lexiblc pipe. joint comprising in coinbination conduit members. one haring an e1.teriorly spherical portion extending into but: out ot' contact with the other member, aricul ting hall and socket elements within and r idly connected with said conduit members respectively .so as to hold one of said members centered within and ont ot contact with the other member. a gasket arranged between the inner part; ot' said spherical portion oi" one ot .said members and said other member. aml a spring which tends lo keep said ball and socket eleu'lents in proper bearing contact with each other.

t3. il flexible pipe joint comprising in combination conduit members. one haring an exteriorly spherical portion extending into but out ot trictional Contact with the other member` articulating ball and socket elements. the latter tormed with a lubricant pocket, within and rigidly connected with said con duit members respectively so as to hold one ot said members centered within and outl of Contact with the other member. and a gasket arranged between the inner part of the spherical portion ot one ot said members and said other member.

'l'. A flexible pipe joint comprising in combination conduit men'ibers. one haring an exteriorly spherical portion extending into but out ot contact with the other member. articulating ball and socket elements within and rigidly connected with said conduit members respectively so as to hold one of said members centered Within and out of contact with the other member. and a gasket arranged between said spherical portion of one of said members and said other member.

EDWARD A. RUSSELL. EMIL E. STENZEL. 

